INTERVIEW #21 PACHAMAMA BOHEMIAN

“Vintage makes it unique and different. You’re going to have a jacket no one else has. Instead of ending up in landfills, the garment comes to me.”

Based in: Miami, USA

Founded: 2013

Founder: Valeria Gebruers

Store: Shipping globally

How would you describe Pachamama Bohemian and why did you start it?

I started in 2013. I had a very small company where I designed dresses and so on. I used to work with artists from India. We did small things with recycled materials. In India they have amazing vintage materials. In 2015 I took a big step and I started making jackets and hats. Every year I try out different ideas. I don’t have a business plan. For me, it’s about the energy I get. One of my customers has 19 of my jackets and she told me she could hang them in her living room to look at during the pandemic to come over hard times and find inspiration. This is how I got the idea about the Canvas. I started to make canvas. I get my ideas from my customers. The same thing happened with the hats. It is the same for a customer who wanted something for a stage performance. He asked me about the hats so I created them. It was the same thing with Iris Apfel, I just find her very inspiring. I did the appliques of Iris on my jackets, and from there my company grew and evolved. In my company everything starts with an idea and a message. 

But my background is not in fashion, it is in translation. I worked as an assistant for a big company  for some years. When I followed my husband to the USA I became a mom full time. I didn’t work. When the children grew up I needed to do something for myself. I started to meditate a lot to find my path. 

So I started with small pieces of bazaars in my house. It was a very small business. After some time I built my own website. And after that my website needed improvements and someone helped me. I did my first pop-up in Miami 2017. This gave me the possibility to meet people who were interested in my work. I had my vintage bags and the custom made jackets. Many actors, singers and so on were interested in my jackets. An they really liked that I used old jackets. 

My brand is not 100% recycled. I can’t do it. But at least I start to make a big impact in what can be done for others. Vintage makes it unique and different. You’re going to have a jacket no one else has. Instead of ending up in landfills, the garment comes to me. People even bring me their vintage items. I make a small impact in the world. This is the way of starting to make a change. 

I like that my art is versatile. You can use it for many years in your life. It is timeless, seasonless and so on. Many mothers buy it so they can give it to their daughters when they grow up.

“Many mothers buy it so they can give it to their daughters when they grow up.”

Where does the material come from?

I buy most jackets from apps where you can buy old clothes. Sometimes you don’t know what you get. I sometimes buy in huge numbers. But these jackets would otherwise go to landfills. Sometimes I buy new garments or garments the companies don’t want to use. I don’t even know how I get all of it, I just buy what feels right. When I’m in the process of creating, I do everything that has to do with energy and mother earth. I connect myself with my inner self. I’m in my own bubble. It normally has to do with angels, evil eyes and so on.  By looking within zodiac jackets and Tarot jackets came as well. I do a lot of Tarot and Angels cards. I do things with balancing and cleaning the energies. It is very much about what happens to me. 

I started with healing when my daughters moved out. I did different healing processes and that made a huge change in my company. My whole life became much better. A lot of ideas that came because I worked on my mom's problem. It was very beautiful to see it manifested. 

Everything starts within. When you start to make a change, everything changes. I was trying to feel better by being alone and then everything around me changed. It had to do with my own evolution. 

As a business person I work from my heart. I just want to do something good. My business grew and evolved a lot because I did. It was not a plan. It grew because I grew. When I create I listen to interviews on meditation, mantras or sounds for higher energy. I clean the energy in the house. You have to choose your energy. You make a big impact by being different. 

“As a business person I work from my heart. I just want to do something good. My business grew and evolved a lot because I did. It was not a plan. It grew because I grew.”

What have been the major challenges?

One challenge has been the imitations, but after some time I realized they were just stones but different. I was concerned about what to do with the situation, but then it just inspired me to be even better. 

In the beginning I was concerned about not being chosen because of the other brands I shared space with such as PRADA, DIOR etc. 

No one looked at me in the beginning. But my mom said that one day someone will see me and that would be all the difference. One day a stylist came. She chose my products for her clients. After she had seen me more started to notice me. I moved from that store into a studio with other artists. When the pandemic came the artists left the studio so I decided to create my own small studio for artists. It is very bohemian and vintage. It has everything I want. I cried in the beginning, because this was the first time I signed a contract. It was very big for me. This was nine months ago. We didn’t know what was going to happen with the pandemic. I was signing the contract in the middle of it. I did it! 

“I don’t like the spotlight on me but I like it on my work. My work should be the stars.”

What has been the largest gains?

To be able to see my items on stages and be chosen by well known people. All these amazing stylists working in the fashion industry and with big names such as Shakira, Ricky Martin and so on. All these people I have known since I was in Argentina . I never thought I would be involved. It is very important to make an impact on these stylists. When they trust your brand they know I will deliver. The artists won’t say my name but the people will know it and the stylist will say it. They’ll share it on Instagram. I don’t like the spotlight on me but I like it on my work. My work should be the stars. To have interviews with big newspapers is new for me. One magazine in Argentina was really big for me. People started to call me from all over the world. 

In life everything you can create you already have! You make a big change by being you. Since I did all my changes last year a lot of things have changed. It had to be manifested and co-created. Everything needs to be healed. I heal and then I create. I don’t know where my ideas come from. 

What do you think about the fashion industry and how can we change it for the better?

I think everything starts with us. People blame the fashion industry but they still buy their clothes. They still consume fast fashion. We should blame ourselves and change ourselves. What is it we have in our closet? What can we change? We might already have jeans but we keep on buying new ones. Fashion evolves according to consumers. They are following the people. If consumers are changing we can really make a big impact. Fashion brands want to sell and see their profit. Brands can start to have a sustainable pop-up to make it available and try new things out. Then people will start to get involved. Brands can for example reuse and remake their collections. Things like that are good ideas. All of us can make a big impact.  

“We should blame ourselves and change ourselves. What is it we have in our closet? What can we change?”

What can one do that seeks to create a more meaningful life and closet? 

Start by working on yourself. Clean out your closet and see what style you have. What is your personal style? What do you have that you like and what needs to change? Cleaning and checking out is a good start. Most of the time you don’t need more. If you do need more, find something that is seasonless and timeless. Buy something that you will love forever. These days I only buy what I really love, I don’t buy cheap, it’s more expensive but I will love it longer. When I buy my clothes I don’t have to think about seasons as I live in Florida. I will buy things that feel timeless. Clean your closet and get things you will keep. 

Sustainability has to do with the whole mindset. Also about being a sustainable soul. To heal your path and your way. When you change you make an impact. Energy helps the planet. By meditating we make the world a better place. 

“Sustainability has to do with the whole mindset. Also about being a sustainable soul. To heal your path and your way. When you change you make an impact.”

How can you be more spiritual to your workplace?

Meditation doesn’t have to be long. It can just be about waking up and breathing. When you start to listen to yourself you realize you need more. It doesn’t have to be an advanced yoga pose. By connection with yourself and your soul you will find many answers. My daughters are 19 and they are in the social media bubble. And when they have trouble finding the answers, I tell them to close their eyes and listen. To meditate and listen to your heart can take time to learn. It takes time to connect. We need to create an everyday habit. I do meditation every morning and afternoon. Just for 10 minutes. Just by breathing. You don’t need to go to a place. I just sit with myself and that is all I need. It is my own medicine. It takes five to ten minutes. Simple as that.